Comments on: A Puzzle: Can The Plane Take Off? http://danielmiessler.com/blog/a-puzzle-can-the-plane-take-off grep understanding Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:44:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Daniel http://danielmiessler.com/blog/a-puzzle-can-the-plane-take-off/comment-page-1#comment-6023 Daniel Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:18:23 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/archives/830#comment-6023 <p>Actually, there is still air being passed over the wings, as there IS forward motion of the plane. The trick in this puzzle is that the backward motion of the conveyor belt <em>does not</em> reduce the plane's motion forward.</p> <p>The motion forward comes from the engines, and the only way the conveyor belt can counter that is if the planes wheels are not allowed to roll. If allowed to roll they will simply spin as the plane takes off.</p> <p>Notice that this is what happens when <em>any</em> plane takes off, by the way. This is no different. The asphalt going backward is the same as the conveyor belt going backward; either way, the plane is still going forward.</p> Actually, there is still air being passed over the wings, as there IS forward motion of the plane. The trick in this puzzle is that the backward motion of the conveyor belt does not reduce the plane’s motion forward.

The motion forward comes from the engines, and the only way the conveyor belt can counter that is if the planes wheels are not allowed to roll. If allowed to roll they will simply spin as the plane takes off.

Notice that this is what happens when any plane takes off, by the way. This is no different. The asphalt going backward is the same as the conveyor belt going backward; either way, the plane is still going forward.

]]> By: Daniel http://danielmiessler.com/blog/a-puzzle-can-the-plane-take-off/comment-page-1#comment-246159 Daniel Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:18:00 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/archives/830#comment-246159 <p>Actually, there is still air being passed over the wings, as there IS forward motion of the plane. The trick in this puzzle is that the backward motion of the conveyor belt <em>does not</em> reduce the plane's motion forward.</p> <p>The motion forward comes from the engines, and the only way the conveyor belt can counter that is if the planes wheels are not allowed to roll. If allowed to roll they will simply spin as the plane takes off.</p> <p>Notice that this is what happens when <em>any</em> plane takes off, by the way. This is no different. The asphalt going backward is the same as the conveyor belt going backward; either way, the plane is still going forward.</p> Actually, there is still air being passed over the wings, as there IS forward motion of the plane. The trick in this puzzle is that the backward motion of the conveyor belt does not reduce the plane’s motion forward.

The motion forward comes from the engines, and the only way the conveyor belt can counter that is if the planes wheels are not allowed to roll. If allowed to roll they will simply spin as the plane takes off.

Notice that this is what happens when any plane takes off, by the way. This is no different. The asphalt going backward is the same as the conveyor belt going backward; either way, the plane is still going forward.

]]> By: Michael S Black http://danielmiessler.com/blog/a-puzzle-can-the-plane-take-off/comment-page-1#comment-6019 Michael S Black Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:10:21 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/archives/830#comment-6019 <p>All that matters is a differential in air pressures on the wing surface...If the lift generated is sufficient it will launch, if not, it won't. This is SOOOOoooo old as a aeronautics puzzle I can't believe they are still arguing it.</p> <p>If the plane is going forward RELATIVE to the air being passed over the wings, it will launch. But, as in this case, if the plane's wings stays still relative to the air, then it will remain on the ground...</p> All that matters is a differential in air pressures on the wing surface…If the lift generated is sufficient it will launch, if not, it won’t. This is SOOOOoooo old as a aeronautics puzzle I can’t believe they are still arguing it.

If the plane is going forward RELATIVE to the air being passed over the wings, it will launch. But, as in this case, if the plane’s wings stays still relative to the air, then it will remain on the ground…

]]> By: Michael S Black http://danielmiessler.com/blog/a-puzzle-can-the-plane-take-off/comment-page-1#comment-246158 Michael S Black Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:10:00 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/archives/830#comment-246158 <p>All that matters is a differential in air pressures on the wing surface...If the lift generated is sufficient it will launch, if not, it won't. This is SOOOOoooo old as a aeronautics puzzle I can't believe they are still arguing it.</p> <p>If the plane is going forward RELATIVE to the air being passed over the wings, it will launch. But, as in this case, if the plane's wings stays still relative to the air, then it will remain on the ground...</p> All that matters is a differential in air pressures on the wing surface…If the lift generated is sufficient it will launch, if not, it won’t. This is SOOOOoooo old as a aeronautics puzzle I can’t believe they are still arguing it.

If the plane is going forward RELATIVE to the air being passed over the wings, it will launch. But, as in this case, if the plane’s wings stays still relative to the air, then it will remain on the ground…

]]> By: Jason Powell http://danielmiessler.com/blog/a-puzzle-can-the-plane-take-off/comment-page-1#comment-6013 Jason Powell Tue, 25 Jul 2006 10:55:50 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/archives/830#comment-6013 <p>If you read the comments, there's a lot of contention that this guy is wrong, and the plane cannot take off. I'm not totally convinced, but I think the plane would stay at a standstill.</p> If you read the comments, there’s a lot of contention that this guy is wrong, and the plane cannot take off. I’m not totally convinced, but I think the plane would stay at a standstill.

]]> By: Jason Powell http://danielmiessler.com/blog/a-puzzle-can-the-plane-take-off/comment-page-1#comment-246157 Jason Powell Tue, 25 Jul 2006 10:55:00 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/archives/830#comment-246157 <p>If you read the comments, there's a lot of contention that this guy is wrong, and the plane cannot take off. I'm not totally convinced, but I think the plane would stay at a standstill.</p> If you read the comments, there’s a lot of contention that this guy is wrong, and the plane cannot take off. I’m not totally convinced, but I think the plane would stay at a standstill.

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